Small Ship Cruise Talk: River Cruises, Yacht, Barge and Expedition Cruising Tips & Travel Planning Advice
Welcome to Small Ship Cruise Talk, your go-to podcast—and the only podcast of its kind—for all things small ship cruising! Whether you're curious about river cruises, yacht cruises, expedition cruises, barge cruises, or ship-within-a-ship experiences on larger vessels, we, Dan and Mikkel, of the esteemed small ship cruise website Sometimes Sailing, have you covered.
Ever wondered what it’s like to sail on a ship with just four passengers...or 150? Want to know how to budget for a small ship cruise and what the actual costs are? Do we give small ship cruise food a thumbs up or thumbs down? Find out all that and more, like what kinds of ports small ships go to and what packing essentials we recommend, along with valuable small ship cruise travel planning tips.
Each episode delivers concise, value-packed insights to help you easily navigate the world of luxury, adventure, and intimate cruising.
Join us as we dive into real cruise experiences, insider tips, and expert interviews to help you plan your perfect small ship vacation.
Instagram, Threads, & Pinterest: @sometimessailing
Episodes
80 episodes
Cruise Port of Bergen: The Epic Things to Do & Know if You Only Have 2 Days (or Less)
Bergen is one of the easiest cruise ports in Norway to explore on your own, and even if you only have two days, we're showing you exactly how to make the most of your time here. We walk you through where Viking and Havila ships dock, how close ...
BREAKING NEWS: Explora Journeys Announces River Cruises
🚨 Explora Journeys, the luxury ocean cruise line from MSC Group, announced it has signed a letter of intent, signaling without a doubt that it is entering the world of luxury river cruises, with bookings and more details on the horizon in 2027....
Norway Coastal Cruise with Havila Voyages: Southbound from Kirkenes to Bergen
Thinking about a cruise along Norway’s coast with Havila Voyages? We spent six days sailing southbound from Kirkenes to Bergen aboard Havila Pollux, and we're sharing everything we wish we'd known before we sailed. It's a practical guide ...
BONUS: Bird Watching in Colombia with AmaWaterways: Kingfishers, Limpkins, Tanagers, Herons, & More!
We're on Colombia’s Magdalena River, aboard AmaMagdalena with AmaWaterways, sharing everything you need to know before this bucket-list birding excursion, from spotting Kingfishers and the endemic Northern Screamer to exactly how to prepare and...
Memorable Colombia River Cruise with AmaWaterways on the Magdalena River
🇨🇴 We just got back from Colombia, where we sailed the Magdalena River with AmaWaterways, the only cruise line currently sailing this river. If you've been curious about small ship cruising somewhere off the usual radar (but maybe you’ve alread...
The Only Travel Adapters You'll Ever Need for Cruise & Land
Forgetting a travel adapter can turn "Let's go see Buckingham Palace" into "Where's the nearest electronics store?" ‼️ We know, because it happened to us. ‼️Let’s talk about the travel adapter brand we've trusted for a long time (since ...
How to Surprise Someone with a Cruise: 17 Creative Ideas to Elevate the Gift of Travel
Surprising someone with a cruise takes more than just booking the trip; the reveal is where the magic happens. We're walking you through 17 creative ways to announce a cruise, from low-effort tricks you can pull off in an afternoon to elaborate...
Our One-Week Coastal Maine Road Trip in Depth
The coastal drive we planned before and after our Maine Windjammer Cruise was worth the trip! We're breaking down our full pre- and post-cruise road trip, from flying into Portland (including the vital tip about booking travel that could make o...
Our Maine Windjammer Vacation on Historic Sailboat, Grace Bailey
We spent three nights aboard Grace Bailey, a historic schooner in the Maine Windjammer fleet, and we're breaking down everything you need to know for consideration before booking your trip. From the small cabin to the beach lobster ...
Bonus: Historic Maritime Event Recap from Sail4th 250 in NYC
Join us for a lively recap of the 🇺🇸 July 4th celebrations in New York City, as seen from Governors Island and at home, focusing on the historic maritime events, the Parade of Sail, and the significance of waterway traditions. Disc...
How to Budget and Save for a Cruise in a Year (or Less) with Danielle Corbett
⚓️ Dreaming of a cruise but not sure how to make it happen financially? 💭 That dream cruise doesn't have to stay a dream. We sit down with Danielle Desir Corbett of The Thought Card to break down a realistic, stress-free system for ...
Cruising the Southeast Sea Islands on American Cruise Lines
We're taking you aboard American Cruise Lines' Southeast Sea Islands itinerary — a nine-day, eight-night coastal cruise through the Intracoastal Waterway on a brand-new coastal catamaran, the American Liberty. If you've only thought of ACL as a...
Bonus: NYC Sail4th 250, Once-in-a-Lifetime Flotilla featuring Two Historic Maine Windjammer Cruise Ships
🇺🇸 America turns 250 this July 4th, and New York Harbor is throwing the biggest nautical celebration in a generation. We're breaking down everything you need to know about Sail4th 250 — the historic Parade of Sails for the USA's semiquincentenn...
Celebrity River Cruises: Excursion Updates
Celebrity River Cruises is making waves before launching, and we're breaking down the four excursion categories that make up their new Destination Discovery program to see if it lives up to the hype.We cover the:Storytelle...
All About Road Scholar Afloat: A Unique Cruise Travel Program
Curious about Road Scholar travel programs, but not sure if it's right for you? This episode gives you everything you need to know about the cruise trips (called “Afloat” programs) with Road Scholar, a prestigious non-profit trave...
Repeating the Same Cruise Itinerary: How to Do It Right
Ever had that pull to go back to a cruise you loved? We're breaking down exactly what to consider before you rebook, from choosing the same cruise line vs. switching it up, to how time of year, ports, and even a different version of...
Future of River Cruises, Expedition & Yacht Cruising from Seatrade Global Leading Cruise Industry Event
The future of cruising is looking bright, and we have the inside scoop straight from Seatrade Miami, the cruise industry's leading global event. In this episode, we share our six biggest takeaways, from the explosive growth of river cruising an...
Cruise Tours Audio: How We Uplevel with AirFly
Ever struggle to hear your tour guide on a shore excursion, or find that uncomfortable single-use earpiece driving you crazy? We're breaking down everything you need to know about the #1 listening device for cruise tours, called a Q...
Is it Dumb to Take a Boat Excursion During Your Cruise? Pros, Cons & Tips
Is it dumb to take a boating excursion during a vacation when you’re already on a cruise? Today, we answer this question with the pros, cons, and things you may not have thought of! Ultimately, we’re going to help you decide if your answer is y...
Part 2: Tennessee Rivers Cruise Excursions, Day-by-Day
We’re back with Part 2 of our Tennessee Rivers cruise with American Cruise Lines (ACL)—diving into the ports, excursions, and what surprised us most along the way as we sailed on the Tennessee, Cumberland, and Ohio Rivers. From Chat...
Part 1: Tennessee River Cruise: What to Expect with ACL
You’re going to love this two-part series about our Tennessee River cruise with American Cruise Lines from Chattanooga to Nashville!We’re talking about the big picture of the experience in Part 1: What a Tennessee River cruise is like (i...
How Cruise Sustainability Affects Your Vacation with Joel Balsam
We sit down with travel journalist Joel Balsam to explore what sustainability really looks like in cruising today. From Norway’s electric-first mindset to Havila’s hybrid ships powered by biogas and massive battery systems, we unpack how innova...
Cruise Packing Hack & Tips: What to Know About Ship Laundry
What do you do when you need clean clothes on a cruise? In this episode, we break down the three ways to handle laundry while sailing: self-serve washers and dryers, onboard send-away laundry service, and simple DIY options, like handwashing.&n...
5 Biggest River Cruise Mistakes to Avoid
River cruising sounds simple—but first-timers are often surprised once they step onboard. We’re sharing five common mistakes we see again and again, from choosing the wrong cruise line to packing the wrong items, plus a few myths that st...
Tale of Two Small Cruises: Luxury Barges & Rustic Windjammers with Tamara Gruber
Come along to delve further into a “tale of two cruises” as we chat with travel expert and small-ship cruise enthusiast Tamara Gruber about her barge cruises through France’s small waterways and a Maine Windjammer cruise aboard schooner Heritag...
